Observers name widespread violations at elections in Azerbaijan

During the vote at the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, there were cases of ballot stuffing (throws-in), the so-called "roundabouts", observers' inadmissibility and other significant violations, which prevent from establishing the true voters' will, the NGO leaders have stated.

Serious violations have been fixed at elections in Azerbaijan, Akif Gurbanov, the head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, has noted.

"One of the most common violations was observers' non-admission to polling stations. Where observers were still admitted, they faced pressure," he has added.

In the opinion of Anar Mamedli, the head of the Centre for Election Monitoring and Democracy Education (CEMDE), the current elections in Azerbaijan were almost not different from any previous ones.

The election campaign in Azerbaijan was held under the restriction of political freedoms, the CEMDE has stated. The parliament enjoys no authority among the population; and elections cause no credit, since the outcomes thereof are predictable, voters and NGO activists assert.

The ruling "Eni Azerbaijan" (New Azerbaijan) Party, led by President Ilham Aliev, can get the majority of seats in the new parliament, as indicated by exit-polls conducted by the "Arthur J. Finkelstein & Associates" Company.